Houthi fighters man a checkpoint in Sanaa on December 2, 2017. Yahya Arhab / EPA
Houthi fighters man a checkpoint in Sanaa on December 2, 2017. Yahya Arhab / EPA
Houthi fighters man a checkpoint in Sanaa on December 2, 2017. Yahya Arhab / EPA
Houthi fighters man a checkpoint in Sanaa on December 2, 2017. Yahya Arhab / EPA

UN says Iran broke arms embargo by sending weapons to Houthis


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A team of assessors says Iran violated a United Nations arms embargo by directly or indirectly providing missiles and drones to Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The team travelled to Saudi Arabia in November and December of last year and examined remnants of missiles fired by the Houthis in those months, as well as in May and July.

The report, excerpts of which were obtained by news agencies and diplomats on Friday, said: "The panel has identified missile remnants related to military equipment and military unmanned aerial vehicles that are of Iranian origin and were introduced into Yemen after the imposition of the targeted arms embargo" in 2015.

Referring to the UN Security Council resolution that imposed the embargo, it said: "As a result, the panel finds that the Islamic Republic of Iran is in non-compliance with paragraph 14 of Resolution 2216 in that it failed to take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of missile and unmanned aerial vehicles to the Houthi-Saleh alliance."

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Iran denies supplying the rebels with arms.

During a security council meeting on December 19, US ambassador Nikki Haley called the Houthis' firing of a ballistic missile earlier that day "a flashing red siren" and said the United States would push for action against Iran, but Russia signalled its opposition.

That missile attack had been aimed at a meeting of Saudi leaders in the capital, Riyadh, but was intercepted by the kingdom's air defences.

A Saudi-led military coalition is fighting the Houthis in Yemen on behalf of the internationally recognised government of president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi.

On Friday, a coalition air strike in the western coastal province of Hodeidah killed six senior Houthi commanders including Yehya Hussein Al Ayani, a close aide of Houthi leader Abdulmalik Al Houthi.

Twenty other Houthi fighters were killed in a battle further north along the coast on Friday when Yemeni troops repelled an attempt to break a siege of rebel pockets around the city of Midi in Hajja province, the army's 5th military zone said on its Facebook page.

Yemeni military spokesman Col Nasser Al Rydhami told The National that Al Ayani and the other commanders were killed in Al Khoukha district, where pro-government forces are pressing an offensive towards the rebel-held port of Hodeidah after seizing the area late last year.

Al Ayani was in the Houthi party that killed former president Ali Abdullah Saleh on December 4 after storming his residence in Sanaa. He also served in the rebels' rapid reaction force as well as on the northern border with Saudi Arabia, according to the Al Arabiya news channel.

The Houthis killed Saleh after he broke off his alliance with them and called for talks with the Saudi-led coalition to end the war. They then launched a crackdown on his supporters that has seen hundreds killed or arrested.

On Saturday, several women were injured when Houthi security forces broke up protest against the crackdown and looting by the rebels in the capital.

The women had gathered Al Tahreer square holding banners and chanting slogans against the rebels, as well as demanding that they hand over Saleh's body. The rebels reportedly buried the former president in his hometown days after killing, with fewer than 20 people present.

The demonstrators were attacked by the Houthi women's police, known as Al Zaynabyat, with several being arrested and taken to Al Gudairi police station in the old city and others taken to hospital for treatment, a source in Sanaa told The National.

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Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Rating: 2.5/5

About Okadoc

Date started: Okadoc, 2018

Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Healthcare

Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth

Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February

Investors: Undisclosed

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

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Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Company Profile

Company name: Yeepeey

Started: Soft launch in November, 2020

Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani

Based: Dubai

Industry: E-grocery

Initial investment: $150,000

Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

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SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday Spezia v Lazio (6pm), Juventus v Torino (9pm), Inter Milan v Bologna (7.45pm)

Sunday Verona v Cagliari (3.30pm), Parma v Benevento, AS Roma v Sassuolo, Udinese v Atalanta (all 6pm), Crotone v Napoli (9pm), Sampdoria v AC Milan (11.45pm)

Monday Fiorentina v Genoa (11.45pm)

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5